Eira - Norway’s Atlantic Salmon part 2

by Pasi Visakivi

New river is always a challenge. Especially when you are talking about salmon fishing. At the end of last June, we were thrilled to visit a new destination – a river called Eira in Central Norway located in the Møre og Romsdal province. The Eira is an ideal sized river for fly fishing with stunning landscapes.

Fishing the Eira is very difficult because its greatest attributes: the crystal clear water and the small size of the river.

In these waters, fish can be very spooky if the fisherman is not careful enough.

Those who have visited Central Norway know that landscapes in this area are stunning, and the Eira is no exception. It flows between mighty mountains, which reach almost 1700m/ 5500ft in height. The valley is green and lush.

Eurasian bittern are common in the Eira River Valley. Big birds are picturesque in these beautiful surroundings.

Left: The upper river is marked with a resting spot. Right: A light doublehander and some small hairy wings are ready for some serious action in Tommerhølen.

Historically, the Eira has been one of the best rivers in Norway when it comes to fishing for big salmon. The average weight for one in the 1950s was a respectable 11 kilos. Nowadays, it is still possible to hook some good size salmon. The biggest fish of the 2017 season was 14 kilos / 37 lb. The record of recent history, caught only a few years ago, is 18 kilos / 48 lb. So you better be prepared for a long and hard fight on this small river.

The Eira river is only 6 km long, and it originates from a big lake called Eikisdalsvatnet. Fishing is divided into two different parts. The upper 4.5km / 2.8mile part is managed and controlled by Eira-Flyfishing group. Another stretch of about 2km / 1.2mile downstream is controlled by Siramoen Fiskevilla. Our three-person group fished a week on Eira-Flyfishing pools, and all of these photos are from that area. Eira-Flyfishing has 18 different pools, so there is a lot of water to cover for ten rods.

Ready for the next session! Three rods for each fisherman, enough or too much?

Left: Waking up every morning with this view from my bedroom was something special. The mountain is called Fløtatind and it is almost 1700m / 5500feet tall. Center: Landscapes in central Norway can be out of this world. On our way to Eira we drove by the legendary salmon river called Rauma. Right: This is a pool called Kvitlahølen in the upper part of the Eira River.

A small and very deep pool called Lilleplassen.

Roads follow the Eira all the way and on both sides. It is very easy to reach every pool. Here, a rod rack is very useful for transporting your expensive gear from one pool to the next.

Angler Markku Kemppainen tries to reach the opposite shore with his fly on Melhølen.

The most beautiful and lush Eira valley. Pool called Nerashølen in the front and on the opposite shore, cabin called Wadstenhytta. One of many cabins by the river.

Can you imagine yourself fishing in these kind of surroundings? Tommerhølen is the lowest pool of Eira-Flyfishing beats. It is quite deep and calm pool. Angler Jerkko Ahtinen shows how it is done with a double hand rod.

Gryta in the front and Lilleplassen on the back. The deepest pools in Eira. In some pools there is only a very narrow casting space behind you, so double hand rods are needed.

Tommerhølen, the lowest pool in Eira-Flyfishing beats. On the opposite shore is a small cabin for fishermen. Along the river there are several types of cabins for rent.

Angler Jerkko Ahtinen makes his cast on a great pool called Melhølen.

Melhølen, in my opinion one of the best pools among Eira-Flyfishing beats.

Almost there. Around 5 kg salmon put up a hard fight against the fly fisherman. Final seconds of the fight are the most exciting ones.

Left: A fisherman is happy with his beautiful salmon from the river. Right: Eresfjord valley in the early hours. Magical!

Here’s a female capricorn with her calf. Especially in the early hours, you have to be careful when driving along the river. These animals are abundant in the Eira valley.

Contributed By

Pasi Visakivi

I am a 47 years old fly fisherman and a freelancer photographer from the Southern part of Finland. I have been fishing almost all of my life and started fly fishing in my early teenage years. Photographing has been my interest from the childhood. I have been a member of the editorial board of a Finnish fly fishing magazine called Pohjolan Perhokalastaja (Nordic Fly Fisherman) since 2001 and I have published over 30 articles in that magazine. Additionally, I host a very popular Finnish brown trout river called Vihavuosi in the Southern part of Finland.

Site

Categories

Locations

Fish

Eira – Norway’s Atlantic Salmon part 2

Contributed By

Pasi Visakivi

Issue #57

The Río Grande - Tierra del Fuego